Well I have continued to exchange
e-mail with the Bime and also made contact with Bob Garnham, one of the best
swimmers BGS ever produced. I thought therefore I would at least try to make
a contribution to the website, however clumsy, and tell the story of the
Trent River Ramblers.
For me, it started when I was in 5A
and I bought a guitar for 5 pounds from a music store in Station Street
opposite M&S. I had no idea how to play it, I just knew I wanted it. One of
my form mates also had a guitar and he heard about a talent contest for
skiffle at the Swadlincote Rink. We got together, entered and won, much to
our surprise. We only played a couple of times after that and then
disbanded. Our drummer was also a BGS student who played with a traditional
jazz band formed by a group of students.
Shortly after I joined BTR in 1957 I
somehow got into conversation with Colin Norris. Colin also had a guitar and
wanted to form a group. By this time I had a new and better instrument that
my dad bought me and I had learned a few chords. We held our first practice
in an upstairs room of a pub in New Street. Tony Mortimer joined us playing
the tea chest base and Walter Malbon played the washboard. Tony could also
play piano and would later do so with me on the drums while the others took
their beer break when we played the clubs. We also had a drummer but I think
we fired him for being too loud!! I am sorry to say I do not recall the
banjo players name but he also worked at BTR.
Our first "gig" was the BTR
Christmas party, which I think was held somewhere in Stapenhill. We were all
as nervous as hell but they liked us and we were much encouraged. Some time
after that we made contact with gorgeous character many will remember as
Burton's first disc jockey. He worked in the tailors and outfitters store in
the High Street, (Ellis's), but at the weekend he put on a record show in
the Town Hall, playing classics one week and pop the next. He always wore
tails on stage and looked a bit like Hercule Poirot to me. He gave us a slot
and we were his first" live act."
Things were moving forward. Tony and
Walter, who were both quite nifty at woodwork, set about building the double
base which was to become quite a feature of the group. We were also earning
money (5 pounds a night for the group) and this went to buy an amplifier,
mike and pickups. The first time we went electric, we could hardly believe
the sound. Finally Walter bought a set of drums and we were there at last.
We played pubs and clubs around South Derbyshire as well as playing in town
at Rugby Club dances, weddings and the Town Hall. Perhaps our biggest
moment was in Birmingham where we played in a variety show organized by a
guy who was a Terry Thomas look alike.
The Eight Bar Rest came a little
later. Colin had a brother who ran a liquor store by the Star and had the
contacts to get us in. The Club became popular and hosted a number of local
bands. I believe we played together for a little more than two years and
then we slowly drifted apart. I went off to college in London and Colin
later moved to Pirelli. I still have a guitar, not that I play it much and I
had almost forgotten the days of the Eight Bar Rest until Les Simpson
pointed me to the BGS website. We were clearly not destined for stardom, but
we had a lot of fun, and I would not have missed those two years for
anything.
Norm Odam
